Inp.polri.go.id - West Manggarai. A 74-year-old man was injured in a Komodo dragon attack while resting in a plantation hut on Rinca Island, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Thursday (19/12/2024).

Komodo dragons, the world's largest lizards, are native to several islands in the province.

According to Ira Santika, a relative of the victim, Hamra, the incident occurred around 2 pm local time on Thursday. The attack began when the Komodo dragon lost track of a cat it had been chasing and bit Hamra's left foot.

"Hamra couldn’t see the dragon clearly due to his age, while his wife was busy scaring off monkeys in the plantation. When she saw the attack, she screamed, alerting nearby residents," she explained, as reported by antaranews.com.

Relatives rushed Hamra to safety, evacuating him by motorboat to a dock in Golo Mori village. From there, the Komodo National Park management provided a vehicle to transport him to the Komodo Regional Public Hospital, where he received medical attention.

Hamra’s son, Suhardin, confirmed his father’s condition: "He received 39 stitches on his left foot."

Hendrikus Rani Siga, the Head of the Komodo National Park management, advised residents to stay vigilant in areas shared with Komodo dragons.

"Living alongside these large predators requires constant caution," he warned.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)